#urbanwork

Here in Chicago, I've seen cast block used both for high end and low end buildings from early 1900s. They are often built to look like Chicago Greystones. Sometimes it's obvious they are cast block, sometimes harder to tell. Can raise repair issues.

It's interesting question that would probably require some digging into the history...but I would bet that the cast block was more affordable than hauling in stone but also because it was viewed as innovative in early 1900s. Thus pairing w/ ornament.

How old? There was an uptick in the use of early forms of cast cement -- both blocks and solid pieces -- as an alternative (more affordable, manufacturable onsite) to stone. Recently posted an example here from Chicago I found over weekend.